Carlos Ernesto Mella Ponce began his professional career in 1997 as a guitarist for the classical chamber quartet “Harmony,” later taking on arranging and directing responsibilities. He also developed his own guitar style and performed across Havana in hotels, bars, and jazz venues. From 2007 onward he has worked as a producer, creating albums and singles for multiple artists, and in 2012 he restructured “Harmony” into a trio format. Since 2016 he has taught guitar and music production at Nadja Academy and through his home studio, and since 2017 he has composed and designed soundtracks for animation studios, TV channels, and video games.

Carlos Ernesto Mella Ponce

Carlos Ernesto Mella Ponce began his professional career in 1997 as a guitarist for the classical chamber quartet “Harmony,” later taking on arranging and directing responsibilities. He also developed his own guitar style and performed across Havana in hotels, bars, and jazz venues. From 2007 onward he has worked as a producer, creating albums and singles for multiple artists, and in 2012 he restructured “Harmony” into a trio format. Since 2016 he has taught guitar and music production at Nadja Academy and through his home studio, and since 2017 he has composed and designed soundtracks for animation studios, TV channels, and video games.

Available to hire

Carlos Ernesto Mella Ponce began his professional career in 1997 as a guitarist for the classical chamber quartet “Harmony,” later taking on arranging and directing responsibilities. He also developed his own guitar style and performed across Havana in hotels, bars, and jazz venues.

From 2007 onward he has worked as a producer, creating albums and singles for multiple artists, and in 2012 he restructured “Harmony” into a trio format. Since 2016 he has taught guitar and music production at Nadja Academy and through his home studio, and since 2017 he has composed and designed soundtracks for animation studios, TV channels, and video games.

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Language

Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Advanced

Work Experience

Freelance audiovisual creator (music & sound for cinematographic industry) at RECAC (registry-enabled freelancer)
January 1, 2018 - Present
Works as a freelancer within the audiovisual and cinematographic creator’s registry in Havana, supported by authorization to perform music/sound-related work for industry projects.
Composer / Soundtrack Designer (animation, TV, games) at ICAIC Animation Studios (and external collaborations incl. RTV Comercial and Cubavision)
January 1, 2017 - Present
Composed and designed soundtracks progressively for animation series, video games, and spots, collaborating with teams under tight postproduction deadlines while maintaining audio quality. Work also includes home-studio compositions for TV channel teams.
Composer and soundtrack designer (animation/video games/spots) at ICAIC Animation Studios (Havana) and other media teams (RTV Comercial, Cubavision)
January 1, 2017 - Present
Composed and designed music/soundtracks for animation series, videogames, and spots, progressively also collaborating with teams at RTV Comercial and Cubavision. Work includes composing and producing audio for multiple projects and delivering within production deadlines.
Music Professor (guitar, theory, production) at Nadja Academy
January 1, 2016 - Present
Teaching roles from 2016: Classical Guitar, Popular Guitar, Electric Guitar, Music Theory, Harmony, Counterpoint, and musical production in DAW environments. Courses included student progression and annual graduation concerts (including a ‘four guitars’ band format with rotating roles).
Music professor (guitar and music theory) and digital audio production instructor at Nadja Academy (Havana)
January 1, 2016 - Present
Teaching classical guitar, popular guitar, electric guitar, music theory, harmony, counterpoint, and musical production in DAW. Also provided assisted class programs from home for students of various ages, guiding them toward producing their own songs.
Guitarist / Producer (Harmony reformatted as trio) at Harmony Quartet (reconfigured as a trio with Voice, Guitar and Percussion)
January 1, 2012 - Present
In 2012, changed the group format into a trio (voice, guitar, percussion) and continued maintaining contracts in bars, hotels, and jazz clubs in Havana.
Member & performer (Trio: Voice, Guitar, Percussion) at "Harmony" Trio format (Havana)
January 1, 2012 - Present
In 2012 changed the ensemble format to a trio consisting of voice, guitar, and percussion, maintaining performance contracts in Havana bars, hotels, and jazz clubs.
Producer / Co-producer and arranger (albums & songwriting credits) at Havana production projects
January 1, 2007 - Present
Produced and participated in music creation for multiple releases. Includes co-composer credit for “Maria,” which won “Denmark Melody Grand Prix 2011.”
Producer / Music arranger (performing and studio work) at Own studio project (self-produced and for other artists)
January 1, 2007 - Present
Developed an independent studio project starting in 2007, producing for himself and other artists. Produced multiple albums, singles, and demos for artists in Havana and supported releases with arranging and production work.
Producer / Music producer (self & other artists) and studio work at Home/own studio (Havana)
January 1, 2007 - Present
Began working as a producer for himself and other artists, producing albums, singles, and demos in Havana, including projects such as Antonio Curiel de la Cal (Curi) and Walter Steffen Nielsen.
Director (quartet) at Harmony Quartet
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2011
Began directing the quartet in 2005 while continuing musical activities and arrangements within the ensemble’s professional engagements.
Director (quartet) and lead guitarist at "Harmony" Quartet
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2011
Took direction of the quartet and continued performing, including developing an individual guitar style and creating guitar-focused arrangements of jazz standards for performances in Havana venues.
Arranger (quartet) at Harmony Quartet
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2004
Started arranging in 2002 for the same quartet, creating guitar-relevant arrangements drawn from jazz standards and related repertoire.
Arranger (classical chamber quartet) at "Harmony" Quartet
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2004
Started working as arranger for the same quartet, shaping arrangements for the ensemble.
Guitarist (classical chamber quartet) at Harmony Quartet
January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2001
Worked as guitarist for the classical chamber quartet “Harmony” under direction/lead musicianship, beginning in 1997. Performed with the ensemble in Havana venues and events, including reductions to smaller line-ups when needed.
Guitarist (classical chamber quartet) at "Harmony" Quartet
January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2001
Performed as guitarist for the classical chamber quartet “Harmony” directed by Raul Skull Blen (Bassoon) and German Ramon Fraga Valdes (Flute), with Eddy Romero Moreno and Carlos Roberto Mitjan in clarinet.

Education

Bachelor in Music at Havana Felix Varela Institute
September 3, 2001 - May 28, 2004
Bachelor in Music (Guitar Performance specialist) at Conservatory "Felix Varela Morales"
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2005
Popular Jazz Harmony (course for Jazz Bands, Berklee College of Music) at Berklee College of Music
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2005
Electric Guitar study (course) at Jorge Luis Valdes Chicoy
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2005
Production in DAW and Mastering in DAW (course) at Friedemann Tischelmeyer
January 1, 2005 - July 18, 2026
Bachelor in Music (specialist in Guitar Performance) at Félix Varela Morales Music Conservatory (Havana, Cuba)
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2005
Popular Jazz Harmony (course for Jazz Bands) at Berklee College (course of study)
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2005
Electric guitar studies at Jorge Luis Valdes Chicoy (electric guitar professor)
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2001
Production in DAW and Mastering in DAW (course) at Friedemann Tischmeyer (DAW course)
January 1, 2005 - July 18, 2026

Qualifications

Bachelor in music
September 9, 2001 - June 9, 2005
Member of the Audiovisual and Cinematographic Creator’s Registry (RECAC) - Havana, Cuba
January 1, 2018 - July 18, 2026
Member of the Audiovisual and Cinematographic Creator’s Registry (RECAC) - Cinematographic Industry (Havana)
January 1, 2018 - July 18, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Gaming